John Constable oil sketch uncovered by museum staff

A previously unknown oil sketch by John Constable has been uncovered by staff at London's Victoria and Albert museum.

The landscape depiction was found beneath a lining canvas on Branch Hill Pond: Hampstead, one of the artist's known works.

The sketch, which was created in the early 1820s, will be put on show at the V&A this week.

The find was made while conservators were preparing for a major Constable exhibition, due to open next year.

The V&A was given three Constable easel paintings, 92 oil sketches, 297 drawings and watercolours and three sketchbooks in 1888 by the artist's daughter, which all form part of the museum's permanent collection.

They were aware of an additional sketch when the main painting was X-rayed, but assumed it had subsequently been painted over by the British landscape master.

The additional sketch, showing a preliminary view of a sky and several trees, was discovered when the lining became loose and was removed.